Speakers for the 2025 Make Hunger History Summit

Speakers are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

Joelle Allen she/her

CEO, Interaction Traction

Joelle Allen has been a cornerstone of kpCompanies since its inception, driving innovation in executive search and talent acquisition with a focus on equitable recruiting practices. As a thought leader in leadership development and board diversity, she ensures seamless collaboration between clients and the recruitment team, delivering exceptional experiences for both candidates and organizations. Her strategic approach has positioned kpCompanies as a trusted partner for organizations seeking transformational leaders who prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion.

In addition to her work at kpCompanies, Allen serves as Chief Inclusion Officer at Interaction Traction, Inc., a firm she founded in 2004. In this role, she develops and executes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies that empower organizations to engage meaningfully with diverse stakeholders. Her expertise in implicit bias training and inclusive recruitment has guided clients—from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits and educational institutions—in building and retaining diverse, high-performing teams.

Allen’s career also includes leadership roles in corporate marketing, where she successfully implemented strategic initiatives to optimize operations, public relations, and supplier relationships across large-scale organizations.

A resident of Golden Valley, Allen chairs the city’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission (DEIC) and serves on the boards of the Minnesota Opera, Americana Community Bank, and the PRN Alumni Foundation. She is also a sought-after speaker and educator, sharing her expertise as an Adjunct Professor at the University of St. Thomas, where she teaches Integrated Marketing Communications in the MBA program.

With an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and memberships in esteemed organizations like the Forbes Communication Council, Allen combines strategic insight, inclusive leadership, and a commitment to equity to help organizations thrive in an increasingly diverse and complex world.

Maureen Arbogast she/her

Director of Data and Analytics, Second Harvest Heartland

Maureen is a passionate leader in data and analytics with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations leverage data to achieve goals and expand impact. As Director of Data and Analytics at Second Harvest Heartland, she is spearheading efforts to modernize their data infrastructure and advance data-informed decision-making. Maureen's background spans consumer electronics, higher education, and public media, giving her a unique perspective on how data can be used to solve complex challenges. She holds degrees in Mathematics and Studio Art from Gustavus Adolphus College, and an MBA from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management.

Katie Bull she/her

Director of Programs, Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN)

Katie Bull is the Director of Programs at Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN). In this role, she is responsible for leading the current programming and service development of FFEN's work with food shelves across the state of Minnesota.  FFEN is an entrepreneurial, innovative, and nimble nonprofit focused on increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of local food shelves. FFEN engages skilled, pro-bono volunteers to offer pragmatic, no-cost consultation and equipment improvements to food shelves adapting to meet the changing needs of their community. FFEN is committed to creating a statewide hunger relief sector that ensures equitable access to healthy food through a welcoming and dignified experience for those who receive it.

Prior to joining FFEN, Katie held multiple positions in hunger relief at two food banks in Minnesota, Second Harvest Heartland and Northern Lakes Food Bank in Duluth, building food shelf capacity and managing food rescue relationships. Katie also spent five years at MAVA (a statewide organization for Volunteer Administrators) as the Membership, Communications and Services Manager, supporting the coordination and development of regular statewide training opportunities and conferences.
 

Dr. Nathan Chomilo he/him

Medical Director, State of Minnesota Medicaid & MinnesotaCare

Dr. Nathan T. Chomilo’s work centers marginalized communities in health policy so that we can dismantle racism in health care & provide children & families an equitable opportunity for health & well-being. He also works to understand and demonstrate how physicians and health systems can be accountable for producing racial & health equity. He is the Medical Director for the State of Minnesota’s Medicaid & MinnesotaCare programs and practices as a General Pediatrician with Park Nicollet Health Services/HealthPartners. He was previously tapped by Governor Tim Walz to serve as the State of Minnesota’s COVID-19 vaccine equity director and as a Senior Advisor on Equity to the Minnesota Commissioner of Health. He is the Chair-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Minority Health Equity and Inclusion and a member of National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Equity in HEDIS Expert Work Group. He serves on the board of Reach Out and Read and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He has been recognized by the City of Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights as a 2019 History Maker at Home recipient, Minnesota Physician which named him a one of the 100 most influential health care leaders in 2020 and 2024, and the Aspen Institute which selected him to be an Aspen Ascend Fellow in 2022. In 2023 he was selected for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Committee on Improving the Health and Wellbeing of Children and Youth through Health Care System Transformation and named to The Lancet’s Commission on Antiracism in Solidarity. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife & sons.

Stevie Ciske 

Food Shelf Coordinator, Watonwan County Food Shelf 

Stevie Ciske has been the Food Shelf Coordinator at the Watonwan County Food Shelf in St. James, MN, for the past two years. In this role, Stevie works to address food insecurity in a diverse community, serving a significant BIPOC population in a predominantly Spanish-speaking area.

With a passion for building relationships and creating a welcoming environment, Stevie collaborates with local organizations and community members to ensure families have access to nutritious food and essential resources. Stevie is deeply committed to fostering cultural inclusivity and finding innovative ways to meet the unique needs of the individuals and families served by the food shelf.

Stevie is an advocate for community engagement and strives to inspire others to join the fight against hunger.
 

Elizabeth Cooper she/her

Chief External Relations Officer, Second Harvest Heartland 

Elizabeth Cooper works her dream job leading the food bank’s efforts to change the hunger conversation by overseeing the research, brand communications and advocacy teams.

Bringing 25 years of nonprofit strategic communications experience to her work, Elizabeth believes strong conversations make for strong communities. She led the mighty communications teams at College Possible and Child Care Aware through national expansion and the introduction of the state’s childcare rating system. Immediately before joining the Second Harvest Heartland team, she managed communications strategy for Minnesota’s Health Care Administration, working to ensure a robust Affordable Care Act conversation in the state.

Elizabeth is a proud graduate of the University of Minnesota’s Master of Arts in Strategic Communications Program—where she currently serves on the advisory board—and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota, Morris. She is passionate about libraries, half marathons and pub food. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and son and has probably run alongside you if you frequent the city’s lakes or trails.
 

Elizabeth Day she/her

Native Food Sovereignty Coordinator, MN Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF)

Elizabeth Day (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) is the American Indian Food Sovereignty Grant Manager at the State of Minnesota in the Office of Economic Opportunity. Elizabeth works with Tribal Nations and nonprofits throughout the State who are building systems of food access and security. Elizabeth has worked with American Indian nonprofits in Minnesota for over 12 years, most recently at the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI). She is excited to bring her experience and talents to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to support the advancement of American Indian Food Sovereignty work.

Jason DeRusha he/him

Board Member, Second Harvest Heartland

Jason DeRusha is an award-winning radio host and former TV news anchor in the Twin Cities. His commitment to fighting hunger dates to his early days as a Food Critic for Minnesota Monthly magazine. Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors of Second Harvest Heartland.

Patrick Felker he/him

Director of Food Access, Family Pathways

Patrick Felker is the Director of Food Access with Family Pathways. He oversees Family Pathways' nine food shelves which cover east central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Family Pathways also operates a Mobile Food Shelf, a food delivery program, and a weekend backup program. In his previous position with Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners he learned how to center shoppers in food shelf operations, a practice he continues with his current work.

Gwendolyn Freed she/her

Interim Chief Development Officer, Second Harvest Heartland

Gwen is passionate about advancing the common good. She seeks to end hunger by leading Second Harvest Heartland’s development team in individual and corporate giving, grants, annual giving, cause marketing and events, and development operations. A Certified Fundraising Professional (CFRE), Gwen has served as a Chief Development Officer at the University of Minnesota, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Cornish College of the Arts, and Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Gustavus Adolphus College. Gwen holds a Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Administration, and a master’s degree in Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota. She has been an adjunct faculty member at the University of Minnesota since 2018. For fun, Gwen enjoys group runs with friends on local lakes and trails year-round.

Abby Gold she/her

Health and Nutrition Extension Specialist, University of Minnesota Extension

Abby Gold currently works as a Health and Nutrition Extension Specialist for the University of Minnesota Extension. From 2015-2020, Dr. Gold was the Vice Chair/Acting Chair for the Department of Public Health at North Dakota State University where she taught courses connecting primary care with public health, public health leadership, and directed the student applied practice experience. She is a community engaged scholar, worked for several U.S. federal nutrition programs, and served as a prevention dietitian in Fargo, North Dakota at Family HealthCare Center. She is actively involved in both research, design, implementation, and evaluation for programs that foster food equity and nutrition security while also promoting access to healthy and nutritious foods at national, state, and local levels.

Charlene Graff she/her

Rural Investment Manager, Second Harvest Heartland

Charlene Graff is the Rural Investment Manager for Second Harvest Heartland, working with rural Minnesota communities for the past fifteen years to assess access to food resources and gaps to help to improve and create new food programming.  She is based from her home in rural Redwood County, where she works and travels to surrounding communities.

Charlene grew up in rural Minnesota and completed her undergraduate degree at Augsburg University in Minneapolis MN and her Master of Public Service from the Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock.

Her life goal is to use her years of public service work connections and leadership to help create a place where all people thrive.
 

Julie Greene she/her

Director of Volunteer Engagement, Second Harvest Heartland

Julie Greene is a seasoned fundraising and volunteer professional with over 25 years of expertise in the nonprofit sector. She has been contributing her expertise for over a decade at Second Harvest Heartland, where she currently serves as the volunteer engagement director. Julie holds a Certificate in Volunteer Administration (CVA), underscoring her dedication to excellence in volunteer management.

In addition to her professional role, Julie is an active board member of Valley Outreach Food Shelf in Stillwater, MN, and the Corporate Volunteerism Council-Twin Cities, where she advocates for and supports volunteerism in the community. Julie enjoys reading, hiking, spending quality time with her two daughters, and volunteering.
 

Forrest Gregory he/him

Executive Director, Manna Market

Born and raised in sunny Hawaii, Forrest Gregory made the bold move to Minnesota in 1990. He figured if hell ever froze over, he’d already be there to see it—because if any place could claim that kind of cold, it’s Minnesota. Despite the drastic change in scenery (and temperature), he found his mission in helping others.

In 2008, Forrest founded Manna Market as part of YouthWay Ministries, inspired by his passion for stewardship and his desire to bridge the gap between surplus food and those facing food insecurity. Starting with just a handful of volunteers and a big dream, Forrest led the food rescue ministry through tremendous growing pains, learning valuable lessons about logistics, volunteer management, and community impact along the way.

With more than 15 years of experience, Forrest has become a go-to expert in the world of food rescue and distribution. He’s seen it all—building partnerships, streamlining operations, and figuring out how to stretch every resource to make the biggest impact. As a full-time volunteer, he dedicates more than 60 hours a week to leading Manna Market, proving his dedication to creating a world where less food is wasted, and more families are cared for.

Forrest’s commitment to faith, community, and resourcefulness shines through everything he does. Whether he’s coordinating a delivery or sharing a joke with the team, he leads with heart and a vision for making the most out of every opportunity to serve.
 

Andrea Gressman she/her

Shopper's Voice Consultant, Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN)

Andrea Gressman has been passionate about improving food access for over 15 years. Her journey began as a volunteer, working with the homeless population in the Denver, CO area. Over the years, Andrea expanded her efforts to include coordinating community initiatives, such as organizing Thanksgiving boxes for families in need.

In 2022, Andrea stepped into a leadership role as the Director of the Emily Food Shelf, where she further demonstrated her commitment to addressing food insecurity. In September 2024, Andrea joined FFEN (Foundation for Essential Needs) as the Shopper's Voice Consultant, bringing her expertise and dedication to connecting with communities and understanding their needs. Andrea's work continues to be driven by her belief in the power of collaboration and compassion to create lasting change.

Brandon Griffin he/him

Senior Vice President of Operations, The Sanneh Foundation

Sr. Vice President of Operations: Reporting to CEO, Brandon has worked at The Sanneh Foundation since September of 2018. He has worked progressively in local government and the non-profit sector for over 20 years in both Arkansas and Minnesota, with an emphasis on administration and management, community relations, and fundraising. Brandon holds a Master’s of Public Administration and Non-Profit Management from Metropolitan State University and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. He is also a graduate of the Leadership Saint Paul (LSP) Class of 2018 and currently serves on the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Brandon strives to engage Saint Paul and East Metro business, civic, and philanthropic communities and helps the organization manage its Capital Campaign endeavors.

Caleigh Gumbiner they/them

Public Affairs Advocacy Manager, Second Harvest Heartland

Caleigh started their career at the University of Minnesota with a community organizing position in the Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. They joined Second Harvest Heartland on the first day of the legislative session in 2024 and before that spent five years in Congresswoman Angie Craig's office. When they aren't working they enjoy birding, writing, crafting and hanging out with their cats Oyster and Pearl. Fun fact - Oyster and Pearl are from their friend Les Anderson, former President of the MN Corn Grower's farm. Good Midwestern farm boys!

Rodolfo Gutierrez he/him

Executive Director, HACER

Rodolfo Gutierrez is the Executive Director of HACER, where he has been serving since May 2007 with extensive professional experience in quantitative and qualitative research and evaluation. He has spoken in several forums and is greatly committed to working with those interested in drawing a state of Minnesota where disparities are eliminated, and are not based on ethnic or cultural differences anymore. Originally from Mexico, Rodolfo carries previous experience in research in Mexico and the U.S., which has been extremely useful while working with different and diverse communities, not only Latino. His formal education includes History (bachelor’s and PhD) and Demography (MS), with extensive experience in research on demographic change. He offers a strong background in quantitative and qualitative research with an emphasis on immigration, education, healthcare access, and cultural incorporation of diverse communities.

Niila Hebert she/her

Executive Director, Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement

MAVA's new Executive Director, Niila Hebert, is a passionate and energetic community leader who has worked with nonprofit organizations for more than 15 years. She carries a zest for developing collective strategies to increase community access and equity and she centers her work on being a catalyst for transformative change through collaborative engagement. She also carries a wealth of experience as a DEI trainer, bringing the core values of equity, belonging, and justice into all areas of her work. Niila is a graduate of Cal State Long Beach University, majoring in Communications and Black Studies. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, she holds CVA (Certified Volunteer Administrator) and CPPM (Certified Professional Project Manager) certifications. Niila currently serves on the boards of Nexus Community Partners, Sweet Potato Comfort Pie and Until We Are All Free.

Maren Henderson she/her

Evaluation and Survey Scientist, HealthPartners Institute’s Center for Evaluation and Survey Research (CESR)

Maren Gelle Henderson, Evaluation and Survey Scientist within HealthPartners Institute’s Center for Evaluation and Survey Research (CESR), has worked as an evaluator in multiple complex systems designed to serve youth and their families. Her evaluation practice emphasizes partnership and shared learning, working together with content experts and stakeholders to understand diverse perspectives, measure impact, and identify opportunities to improve. She’s committed to using the power of research and evaluation to amplify community expertise.

Mario Hernandez he/him

Chief Program Officer, Propel Nonprofits

Mario believes nonprofits and their leaders can build and sustain a more just society. He’s been in the sector for over 25 years in numerous executive leadership and board roles. He was previously Propel Nonprofits’ Strategic Services Director and now works as its Chief Program Officer. In this role Mario works to create greater connections between Propel programs to provide a seamless, mutually rewarding experience to nonprofit leaders working with Propel. St. Paul is his home. He crosses the river regularly. He enjoys riding his bicycle on Minnesota’s vast number of trails. Family and connection to community matter to him.

Rosalva Hernandez she/her

Co-Director of Reclaiming Our Own Time (ROOT), Nexus Community Partners

Rosalva Mujwid Hernandez is the Co-Director of Reclaiming Our Own Time (ROOT) at Nexus Community Partners.  Growing from the wisdom and work of Rest as a pathway toward liberation and justice movement, the work of ROOT envisions ecosystems of wellness, rest, and rejuvenation for BIPOC changemakers. This work supports BIPOC leaders toward dreaming, reconnecting with self, visioning, and resting to value our gifts and restorative cycles. We also aspire to strengthen and build the capacity of organizations and movements to hold that healing space.  We do this work by offering:

• Heal the Healers spaces to honor our healers (3 day in person coming February)
• Reimagine Rest community spaces to invite community to experience rest together
• Continuous 3-month sabbatical with $30,000 funding and a fellowship experience
• Rhythmic Sabbatical Experience 6-month fellowship with paid experiences stretched out over time for those who cannot step away for 3 months. 

I’m a queer indigenous Chicana- mother and sister to many. The daughter of Maria Socorro del Perfecto Castillo Gallegos Hernandez and the descendant of storytellers, healers, and farmers. I’m forever an imperfect sketch finding connections with others, seeking justice and liberation through our shared stories. I’ve called so many places home over the years but the two that hold my greatest memories are Uvalde, Texas and the Twin Cities, Minnesota.

Curiosity is central to my worldview and with that I lean into experimental learning and failing forward. I bring a lifetime of experience in the non-profit, judicial, public school, higher education, health care, and human services fields. My love for this work is rooted in my family’s personal experience navigating systems.
I’ve pursued higher education through a slow journey across an Associate of Arts from Southwest Texas Junior College, a Bachelor of Arts from Metropolitan State University, a Human Services Leadership Certificate and Master of Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota.
 

Michael Hoban he/him

Chief Financial Officer, Second Harvest Heartland

Michael Hoban has overseen the finances for some of the largest and most complex nonprofits in the region, where his work has been powered by a philosophy that a healthy organization is one that collectively owns the financial strategy. This means his budgeting and forecasting work is only truly done when the teams who will use these tools understand them. Michael served as CFO for Planned Parenthood North Central States for several years and previously directed the finances for several top healthcare providers in the Twin Cities for more than a decade. He is a leader in forecasting, accounting and budgeting best practices who also delivers deep knowledge in strategic financial modeling and investment strategies. Michael earned his Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) with a focus in Finance from Metropolitan State University. When he’s not balancing the books, Michael will be spending time with his two children and his wife.

Rachel Holmes she/her

Director of Advocacy and Engagement, The Food Group

Rachel Holmes has devoted her career advocating for equitable access to nutritious food. Her journey began in 2012 after earning a B.A. in Political Science with a Minor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. She started out answering calls on the Minnesota Food HelpLine, guiding individuals through the complexities of the emergency food system. This work reaffirmed her belief that food is a fundamental human right and set her on a path toward creating a more inclusive and just food system. As the Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement, she fosters meaningful connections, develops impactful partnerships, and drives collaborative efforts to advance anti-hunger initiatives. Rachel also serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for Neighborhood Roots, where she works to bridge the work of farmers markets and food justice. When not championing for anti-hunger policy and programs, she loves to spend time with her 5 nieces and nephews, make homemade pizza in her backyard and hike Minnesota’s North Shore.

Heather Jeseritz she/her

Community Services Director, United Community Action Partnership

Heather Jeseritz is the Community Services Director at United Community Action Partnership and has over 23 years of non-profit leadership experience. She has extensive experience in community building, program development, and sustainability planning. She instills innovative solutions to address community needs in all areas of basic needs. Heather has been instrumental in applying grassroot solutions around rural homelessness and hunger. She fuels her passion for strengthening communities by being strategic in partnerships and nurturing collaborations with other providers and funders.  Heather believes that you build a successful agency buy empowering and engaging first with your staff and ensure they too have a great experience in the workplace!
 

Angelica Klebsch she/her

Director of Community Partnerships and Investment, Second Harvest Heartland

Angelica Klebsch has worked in community spaces for over 20 years across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors in different parts of the United States and with military communities overseas. She currently serves as Director of Community Partnerships and Investment at Second Harvest Heartland, having previously held leadership positions at the Office of the Minnesota Attorney General, Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio (CLUES), and the Citizens League. In her current role, Angelica’s teams provide end-to-end support for food distribution partners (shelves, pantries, and programs), merge data and community input to identify where food insecurity is most acute, distribute capacity-building grants, and co-create significant and sustainable ecosystem-level investments with distribution partners and community members.

Angelica’s recent board and advisory council service has included NeoMuralismo de Mexico, Interfaith Action of Greater Saint Paul, HealthPartners Research Institute, Saint Paul Children’s Collaborative, ECM/Adams Publishing, Minneapolis Parks Foundation, TPT-Twin Cities PBS, and the Minnesota Council on Latino Affairs. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Roosevelt University and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, where she serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council and teaches a graduate-level course on group process facilitation for public and community engagement. In her free time, Angelica enjoys exploring local events, cheering on the Minnesota Lynx and Timberwolves, and taking quick trips out of town with her husband and two children. 
 

Brad Kruse he/him

Chief Philanthropy Officer, SRI/Hugh J. Andersen Foundation

Brad Kruse is the Chief Philanthropy Officer for SRI, a family office in Minnesota, primarily representing the Hugh J. Andersen Foundation. Brad previously served as the Organizational Development Specialist with the Initiative Foundation and as a Program Officer with the Central Indiana Community Foundation. Brad holds an MA in Philanthropic Studies and an MPA in Nonprofit Management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University as well as a BA in English Literature form the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Brad previously served as a board member and loan advisory committee member of Propel Nonprofits/MAP for Nonprofits, as treasurer and board chair of the Minnesota Council on Foundations, and as a board member of the Charities Review Council. Brad currently serves on the Church Council of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Stillwater, MN and is Board President of the St. Croix Valley Curling Center.

Lisa Lane she/her

External Affairs Director, Open Arms of MN

Lisa Lane has worked in the nonprofit sector since 1997, primarily in social and human services. She has held a variety of roles including development, community relations, public policy, communications and program development. Lisa served in various organizations as a Development Director and External Affairs Director for 30 years and in the food is medicine sector for nearly ten of those years. At Open Arms, she is responsible for public policy as well as development and communications. She received her B.A. in Journalism from the University of Iowa.

Tara Lashley, CFRE she/her

Director of Development and Communications, The Open Door

Tara’s life is an inspiring story of dedication to both her family and her community. Balancing roles as a mother, wife, and volunteer, she’s committed to creating positive change for others. Her early passion for volunteerism evolved into a career focused on supporting nonprofit programs. Recognizing the importance of funding in ensuring the success of these initiatives, she transitioned into development work, where she has excelled in various fundraising and communications roles.

Tara has worked with several prominent organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, Junior Achievement, the Girl Scouts of River Valleys, the Jeremiah Program, and VEAP. Her expertise spans a wide range of areas, from corporate sponsorships and peer-to-peer fundraising to grant writing and annual appeals.

Now, as the Director of Development and Communications at The Open Door, Tara is deeply involved in hunger relief efforts, helping to provide fresh, healthy food to those in need. Her commitment to ending local hunger reflects her broader passion for ensuring that individuals have the opportunity to live their best lives.

Stephannie L. Lewis she/her

Associate Vice President Advocacy and Community Impact, Greater Twin Cities United Way

Leveraging nearly two decades of strategy development and implementation, policy education, and operations, Stephannie L. Lewis has developed a reputation for building and positioning organizations for success. She works with teams to align their time, talent, and treasure to drive impact in their organizations and communities. 

Stephannie currently serves as Associate Vice President, Advocacy and Community Impact at Greater Twin Cities United Way where she leads both advocacy and community engagement, as well as strategy execution for “beyond the dollar” initiatives. She draws her expertise from roles in public, private and nonprofit sectors, which adds value to conversations around trust-based philanthropy, community engagement and activation, systems disruption, and organizational effectiveness. Stephannie is committed to cultivating equity-centered, balanced, trust-based relationships between community and power structures to advance systems change. 

Stephannie holds board committee memberships at Minnesota Diversified Industries and the Minnesota Council of Foundations.
 

Jake Loesch he/him

Executive Director, Citizens League

Jake Loesch joined the Citizens League as Executive Director in September 2023. Jake’s professional experience closely mirrors the League’s work: leaning into complex conversations, encouraging healthy debate among differing viewpoints, and working toward achievable solutions. He has worked at nearly all levels of government and built broad coalitions to engage diverse audiences and find common ground, most recently leading communications and public engagement at the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Having been engaged with the League’s work for several years, including serving on our board since 2019, Jake has a deep appreciation of the League’s history, as well as an innovative vision for its future.

On a wide range of topics from education and transportation to elections and economic development, Jake is a well-known strategist and advocate. His career has included time with the Republican Party of Minnesota and the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus, as well as serving as communications director for Minnesotans United, the historic grassroots campaign that defeated a constitutional amendment and won marriage for same-sex couples in Minnesota in 2013. Prior to joining MnDOT, Jake was an account manager and lobbyist with Goff Public, a Saint Paul-based public relations and government relations firm. 

Jake graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and was a 2017-2018 Policy Fellow at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He was named to the Twin Cities Business 100 list in 2024, currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Family Housing Fund and Upstream Minnesota, and is a member of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity’s Leadership Council. Jake lives in Arden Hills with his wife and three children.
 

Louise Matson

Executive Director, Division of Indian Work

Louise (White Earth Band of Ojibwe) graduated from St. Olaf College with a BA and later received a teaching license from Concordia College for Grades 1-6. She founded and operated the first Boys & Girls Club located in a school in Minneapolis before being hired at the Division of Indian Work in 2002. She directed the Youth Leadership Development Program before being hired as the Executive Director in November 2014. Under her leadership, the Division of Indian Work separated from its founding organization in 2016, becoming an autonomous American Indian-led agency in 2018.

Louise served as a mentor for Big Brother Big Sister for over ten years and was awarded Big Sister of the Year in 2004. She was the lead advisor for the Native American Mentoring Initiative, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities from 2008 to 2013. Louise is a founding board member of Bdote Learning Center, a Dakota and Ojibwe Immersion School located in South Minneapolis. 

She is Chair of the Phillips Indian Educators group, where she helps guide the implementation of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Minneapolis Public Schools Board of Directors to improve outcomes for American Indian students. She is Vice-Chair of the Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors group, a collaborative of over twenty-five American Indian organizations operating within the Twin Cities metropolitan area.  She is a member of the Full Lives Advisory Group, the Indigenous Education for All Advisory Committee, a DHS Commissioners Advisory Panel and is a partner in the Birth Justice Collaborative (BJC).
 

Mary-Helen Mische she/her

Senior Grants Officer, Second Harvest Heartland

Mary-Helen Mische serves as Senior Grants Officer for Second Harvest Heartland, managing, writing, reporting on and stewarding foundation, corporate, government and major gift grant opportunities to support Minnesota’s largest food bank. Prior to joining Second Harvest Heartland, her professional experience included work in pediatric health care philanthropy, government relations, and local government.

The common thread across her career—from speech writing for elected officials to securing state funding for local infrastructure projects to writing successful grant applications—is building relationships to amplify, elevate, and advocate for solutions on behalf of neighbors and communities. 

She is a proud graduate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities.

Sarah Moe she/her

Founder and CEO, Sleep Health Specialists

Sarah Moe started her career in Sleep Medicine in 2006 and is the Founder and CEO of Sleep Health Specialists, which provides sleep education to businesses and corporations. She was also an Adjunct Professor in the Polysomnography (Sleep) Program at Minneapolis College, and sat on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota Sleep Society and the Educational Products Committee for the American Association of Sleep Technologists.

For her role in Sleep Education in our workforce, Sarah has been named to the Minnesota Business Magazine's "35 Under 35" 2016, "Most Likely to Succeed- Healthcare Division" finalist in 2017, "Women Who Lead" 2018, the Minneapolis St. Paul Business Journal's "Women In Business" 2019, and the TeamWomen's "WaveMaker Award- Uncharted Territory" finalist, 2019, and the Twin Cities Business Magazine's "Female Entrepreneurs" 2022. You can also catch her on her regular WCCO news segment "Health Watch", where she discusses various Sleep related topics.

Sarah Moberg she/her

Chief Operations Officer, Second Harvest Heartland

Sarah Moberg is Chief Operations Officer at Second Harvest Heartland, a leading hunger-relief organization in Minnesota. Sarah is committed to creating, sourcing, and moving food to neighbors as she oversees all end-to-end sourcing and distribution of the millions of meals Second Harvest Heartland shares with the community annually. Prior to joining Second Harvest Heartland, she spent 25 years with General Mills, leading teams, operations, and innovation initiatives around the world. Sarah currently serves on the board of Aeon, an affordable housing non-profit, and on the advisory council for the Minnesota Children’s Cabinet.

Ethan Neal he/him

Director of Partner Operations, Second Harvest Heartland

Ethan Neal is a 7th generation Iowa farmer and laborer who was lucky enough to grow up in Northfield, Minnesota. After time abroad, he came back home to Minneapolis and began his 12-year career with Pillsbury United Communities. Having started as a part-time temporary employee, he worked his way up and ended his time at Pillsbury United by serving as the Director of Food Systems. That role included working across the food system including food shelves, meal programs, urban agriculture, rural agriculture, hydroponic farming, education, and retail. This broad understanding of the food system as a whole led him to his current role at Second Harvest Heartland as the Director of Partner Operations. He is passionate about creating partnerships between the food bank and broader food system to ensure that our neighbors have access to healthy, culturally relevant food.

Roel Ramos he/him

Partner Operations Specialist, Second Harvest Heartland

Roel Ramos has dedicated the last 12 years of his career to the nonprofit Second Harvest Heartland. His roles have progressed throughout his tenure, starting as an Order Fulfillment Specialist then transitioning to a Shipping and Receiving Specialist. In his current role as a Partner Operations Specialist, he plays a key role in supporting partners by assisting them with capacity building initiatives, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, and providing excellent customer service. In his free time, he loves traveling and making memories with his beautiful wife and children. He is also a lifelong Minnesota Vikings fan SKOL!  

Shelly Rank she/her

Business Analyst, Second Harvest Heartland

Shelly (Rochelle) Rank is a Business Analyst at Second Harvest Heartland supporting the Neighbor Services and Community Partnership teams. As an analyst Shelly supports her teams by studying their operational data and making recommendations to improve processes. Shelly holds a degree in Secondary Math Education from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master's in leadership from the University of St. Thomas. During her first career she spent over 12 years as a math teacher and instructional coach at various Title I schools in the Twin Cities. While transitioning to her second career in data she worked at the Minnesota Department of Education as a Management Analyst for the Nutrition Services department. 

Jenna Ray she/her

Interim Executive Director, GiveMN

A North Dakota native and Midwesterner at heart, Jenna Ray, interim executive director at GiveMN, is a coach-style strategic leader with 20 years’ experience in nonprofit mission and program delivery, strategic visioning and planning, fundraising and communications, board governance and management, and workplace culture building. Since 2003 Jenna has served community organizations of all sizes addressing the childcare crisis, rural resilience, animal welfare, gender equity, Native sovereignty, civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and public education. 

As a fundraiser and capacity builder, Jenna has led development teams to record-breaking campaigns and giving day success. She’s also launched and led fundraising-training programs designed to help small, volunteer-led organizations carry out successful place-based campaigns. In 2024 she co-founded the first statewide giving day in the United States to center gender equity.

Prior to joining GiveMN in 2022, Jenna served in program, communications, fundraising and leadership roles at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, UMN Morris, West Central Initiative, Minnesota Upstream, and more. Jenna holds a BA in theatre arts, English, and multicultural studies from the University of Minnesota Morris and a Certificate in Fundraising Management from The Fund Raising School, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She's currently pursuing a MA in organizational leadership at St. Catherine University. Jenna is a member of the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, with family ties to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Her greatest hope is to be a good relative.

Liz Riley she/her

Food Programs Grant Manager, MN Department of Children, Youth and Families

Liz Riley has twenty years experience working in basic needs social services, the majority of her time working in hunger relief in a variety of settings, including Valley Outreach, Neighborhood House and Dorothy Day Center food shelves. Most recently, Liz worked at Valley Outreach as their VP of Programs and Strategy where she also was a leader in developing the SuperShelf model and collaboration, among other community-led hunger relief efforts in the metro. Liz has a dual master’s degree in Social Work and Public Policy from the University of Minnesota and also has a background of working in adult basic education, philanthropy, research, and housing programs.

Liz now works as a Food Programs Grant Manager for the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, administering TEFAP, MFSP and other funding sources to food banks, food shelves, and Tribal Nations in Minnesota.

Zach Rodvold he/him

Director of Public Affairs, Second Harvest Heartland

Zach Rodvold serves as Second Harvest Heartland’s director of public affairs, having joined the food bank in January of 2023. In this role, he oversees the government relations, public policy advocacy, and related stakeholder engagement and communications work within the External Relations Team. Zach and his team work closely with Second Harvest Heartland leadership, staff, and stakeholders to advance policies that will help make hunger history in Minnesota. Prior to joining Second Harvest Heartland, Zach spent 20+ years working in state and federal government, issue advocacy, and political campaign work.

Courteney Roessler she/her

Food Programs Supervisor, Office of Economic Opportunity, MN Dept. of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)

Courteney Roessler’s initial experience as a social worker plunged her into the arena of crisis management specifically housing, child protection within the Latino community, and hunger. Working with clients living on the edge had a tremendous impact on her thinking of scarcity and abundance (which are often times consequences of unsustainable or misguided policy). Drawn to food insecurity work, she began managing food shelves (the MN version of food pantries ) in her community of Eastside, St. Paul, an area of extreme neglect and immense need. There she initiated programs and guidelines that helped those most in need. She engaged in a range of coalitions, community outreach, and collaborations, all in an effort to expand food accessibility within her community.

Courteney now supervises a team of Grant Mangers who administer TEFAP, MFSP, and other funding sources at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Her work supports food banks, food shelves, and Tribal Nations. She describes TEFAP as being a “really cool federal program where states get to set policy and low barrier eligibility is celebrated”. She stays up at night thinking about program participants and how they feel and how they’re treated when they walk into a food shelf. She thinks about ways in which TEFAP policy can be used to support providers, ensure that food is easily available, and to make continuous improvements within the hunger sector.

Neely Snyder she/her

Executive Director, Dream of Wild Health

Neely Snyder is Executive Director of Dream of Wild Health, a Native-led nonprofit organization in Minneapolis, MN, whose mission is to restore health and well-being in the Native community by recovering knowledge of and access to healthy Indigenous food, medicine and lifeways. The organization has an office in Minneapolis and a 30-acre farm 40 minutes north of the city. Neely is an enrolled member of St. Croix Chippewa and a direct descendent of Red Lake Nation and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Throughout Neely's career in the nonprofit sector, she has worked with multiple organizations including Native Americans in Philanthropy and American Indian Cancer Foundation, serves as Vice Chair on The Family Partnership Board of Directors, and recently the Chair of Spring Lake Park Schools American Indian Parent Advisory Committee. Her passion is building stronger and healthier Native communities. She enjoys watching her kids play sports and spending time with family and friends.

Mike Stephenson he/him

Director of Communications, Second Harvest Heartland

Mike Stephenson is the Director of Communications at Second Harvest Heartland and is honored to be contributing to the organization’s goal of cutting Minnesota’s hunger in half by 2030. He has spent more than two decades leading nonprofit communications addressing conservation, neurological disease, domestic violence and hunger.

Andrea Thomas she/her

Executive Director, Mount Olivet Lab School, NOURISH Food Shelf

Andrea Thomas is the founder of NOURISH food shelf and serves as the Executive Director of Mount Olivet Lab School, Inc., an organization that has been empowering families and children for over 40 years. Lab School provides access to nutritious food and wholesome activities in a safe environment, serving the Frogtown, Rondo, and Summit-University communities. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrea has played a pivotal role in expanding Lab School’s Kid’s Café onsite feeding program and Saturday Free Produce Distributions into a community food shelf that impacts over 200 families and 1,000 individuals weekly, spanning 34 Minnesota zip codes. This exponential growth has in part been the catalyst for seeking a new space for operations.

Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Andrea Thomas holds a professional degree in Architecture (B. Arch with Honors) from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Certificate from the Vision to Reality Program for Nonprofit Management at the University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, Minnesota. She was one of six Twin Cities leaders featured in the TPT Original “Leading Through the Pandemic” and the City of Saint Paul Food Waste Prevention Project video. Andrea is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Incorporated, both organizations dedicated to legislation, education, and community outreach.

Edwin Torres DeSantiago he/him

Vice President of Public Affairs, NewPublica LLC

Edwin Torres DeSantiago is a political and policy strategist with over a decade of experience in electoral and issue campaigns at the local, state, and national levels. Born in El Salvador and raised in Los Angeles, Edwin overcame extraordinary adversities—moving over 18 times before graduating high school, experiencing homelessness, and surviving hunger. As a queer, undocumented leader, his resilience fuels his passion for advocacy.

Edwin has played pivotal roles in major electoral campaigns and now serves as Vice President of Public Affairs at NewPublica, driving legislative and political initiatives. He is also the first undocumented PhD student at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and serves on several boards, including the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, COPAL MN, SAVE MN, Good Trouble, and FairVote MN.

Sophie Wallerstedt she/her

Public Affairs Manager, Second Harvest Heartland

Sophie is the Public Affairs Manager for Second Harvest Heartland. She has an extensive background in grassroots advocacy and public policy—especially concerning health care access and Medicaid. Prior to working at Second Harvest Heartland, she was the Health & Health Care Policy Advisor for the Office of Governor Tim Walz and has almost 10 years of experience working in and around the Minnesota State Capitol. She holds a BA in History, a Master's in Public Policy, and a Master's in Public Health, all from the University of Minnesota.

Jeremy Wells he/him

Senior Vice President of Philanthropic Services, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

Jeremy R. Wells currently serves as senior vice president of Philanthropic Services at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Minnesota’s largest community foundation. In this role, Jeremy serves as the chief fundraising and donor stewardship strategist. He also staffs the Foundation’s board development and governance committees.

Jeremy has spent his entire career working in philanthropy. Prior to his work at the Foundation, he served as the chief development officer at both Augsburg University and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. He holds both a master’s degree in philanthropy & development and his CFRE certification. Jeremy is an adjunct faculty member at the University of St. Thomas and is a frequently requested speaker and author on a variety of philanthropic topics, including development planning, utilizing volunteers, donor engagement, stewardship, ethics and charitable gift planning.

In addition to his work, Jeremy serves on numerous local, regional and national boards. He was also selected as a 40 Under 40 recipient by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal in 2018.

Susie West she/her

Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension’s Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing

Susie West is an Extension Educator in the University of Minnesota Extension’s Department of Family, Health and Wellbeing. Her primary areas of focus are food access and mental wellbeing. Currently, she leads the SuperShelf program at UMN and is part of the Statewide Food Shelf Survey team. 

Jill Westfall she/her

Statewide Food Access Manager, The Food Group

As Statewide Food Access Manager, Jill works to make sure our programs are as effective as possible in meeting the needs of Minnesotans who struggle with hunger. She manages our SNAP outreach work--including the Minnesota Food HelpLine, SNAP Rx, and the Market Bucks programs--and our food shelf capacity work. An advocate at her core, Jill’s career has focused on working to improve our public systems and policies, so they help individuals and families live to their fullest potential. Prior to joining Hunger Solutions & The Food Group, she worked in Nebraska, working in communications at statewide nonprofits. Jill holds a Bachelor of Arts from Creighton University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Abbey Witham she/her

Grants Officer, Second Harvest Heartland

Abbegayle (Abbey) Witham is a Grants Officer at Second Harvest Heartland, staying busy writing and submitting grant reports and proposals and researching grant prospects. Abbey loves stories and believes they are at the heart of every non-profit. She is honored to share the incredible stories of Second Harvest Heartland’s impact, partners, and neighbors through the grants she writes. Before joining Second Harvest Heartland, Abbey worked at College Possible Minnesota, where she developed and implemented grant management systems and wrote over $3 million in successful grants. She received her BA in History and English from the College of Saint Benedict in 2021. Outside of work, Abbey enjoys gardening, cooking, baking and trying to keep up with her year-old rescue pup, Remy.

Annissa Zynda she/her

Partner Operations Manager, Second Harvest Heartland

Annissa Zynda is the Partner Operations Manager at Second Harvest Heartland, having previously worked for the organization as an Agency Services Coordinator, Compliance Specialist, and Compliance Lead. After studying Agronomy and Global Health in undergrad, Annissa completed three AmeriCorps service terms, including one term as an AmeriCorps VISTA at the Foodbank for the Heartland in Omaha, NE. Her work in foodbanking is centered in supporting partners in all things compliance, capacity building, and customer service. She recently bought her first home in Northfield, MN where she lives with her boyfriend and cat.